THE INDIANS 215 



slight causes must serve to determine their course of 

 migration, for no one can tell just where it will go. From 

 Atlantic to Alaska, throughout the immense territory of 

 the barrens, this is true; no race or tribe can foretell in 

 this absolutely important matter. Some scattering deer 

 are found over the country apart from the main herd ; and 

 the latter may break up into smaller bands. 



The shore people from Hopedale north formerly depended 

 much on their deer supply. For some years this has failed. 

 The southward movement was never much depended on 

 at the coast, while recent fires have swept so much of the 

 country south of Davis Inlet that the northward movement 

 may be shunted off inland around the burnt district for 

 a long time to come. 



So far as the caribou and the Indian are concerned, the 

 loss of the shore people is quite their gain, for the latter 

 are well armed, good shots, and have less restraint in killing 

 than the Indians. An Eskimo family south of Nain told 

 the writer that they ought to get one hundred deer in a good 

 season, for themselves and dogs. North of Nain conditions 

 are less changed. The Eskimo hunters from Nain and 

 Okkak meet near the height of land west of Okkak late in 

 the winter, and often get all the meat their dogs can haul 

 out. Large wolves, varying from gray to black, accom- 

 pany the herds. 



The northern Indians are still polygamous, though the 

 limited number of women tends toward practical monogamy. 

 The work about the lodge is done mainly by the women; 

 what with dressing skins, making pemmican, and the 

 ordinary housework, they are often overworked. In time 

 of scarcity there is little for them to do, while the men, 



